Fire-kindler.



Witn eses l I" I by NO- 808,033. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. E. M. FLYNN.

FIRE KINDLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.11, 1905.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIRE-KINDLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed September 11, 1905. Serial No. 278,001.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS M. FLYNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Laclede and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Fire- Kindler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire-kindlers, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of this character comprising a porous block or body portion capable of absorbing a quantity of oil or other inflammable liquid and having a transverse opening formed therein to permit the escape of gas when the liquid is ignited.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handle or support havinga pair of terminal spring clamping-arms adapted to engage the transverse opening in the porous block or body portion, whereby the parts may be readily disconnected when desired.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a sectional side elevation of the kindler, 5 designates the porous block or body portion, preferably spherical in shape, as shown, and provided with a transverse opening 6 to permit the escape of gas. The block 5 is supported in convenient position for use by a suitable handle 7 preferably formed of a single piece of wire the opposite ends of which are bent inwardly, as indicated at 8, to produce a pair of spring clamping-arms 9, adapted to engage the transverse opening in the block, whereby the handle may be quickly detached when the same becomes worn or injured from constant use.

The block 5 is formed of a composition consisting of equal parts of asbestos cement, fireclay, black-lead, and diamond-dust, or the powder resulting from the grinding and polishing of diamonds, the several ingredients being placed in a suitable receptacle and mixed with a quantity of hot or cold water until the mixture assumes the consistency of putty, being subsequently rolled into balls or molded, stamped, or otherwise formed into blocks of suitable size and shape and then dried or baked in the sun. The asbestos cement has the property of absorbing the oil or other inflammable liquid with which the block is saturated, while the diamond-dust and fire-clay are indestructible by fire and tend to make the block porous and prevent disintegration of the same.

In operation the device is dipped into coaloil or other suitable liquid hydrocarbon and then ignited and placed beneath a grate of a stove in the usual manner.

Although it is preferred to use the above ingredients in the proportions stated, it will be understood that said proportions may be varied without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A composition of matter for absorbent fire-kindlers consisting of asbestos cement, fire-clay, diamond-dust and black-lead.

2. A composition of matter for absorbent fire-kindlers consisting of equal parts of asbestos cement, fire-clay, diamond-dust and black-lead.

3. A perforated absorbent block for firekindlers formed of equal parts of asbestos cement, fire-clay, diamond-dust and black-lead, the same being mixed with water andsubsequently molded into block form and dried or baked.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS M. FLYNN.

Witnesses:

PHIL. DoNNELLY, S. P. SMITH. 

